Is Terrorism the Quran and Books, O Bankrupt Ones?!
(Translated)

The Russia Today website published a news report on 5/2/2025 stating that "The Russian Federal Security Service dismantled a terrorist cell affiliated with Hizb ut Tahrir in the Crimean Peninsula and arrested five individuals who were recruiting supporters for the Hizb, which is banned in Russia." The report included a video showing the arrest operation and house raids, in which it was evident that what the Russian security service seized from the Shabab's homes were copies of Al-Quran Al-Kareem, books, and political and intellectual Islamic booklets—well-known publications of Hizb ut Tahrir in both name and content.

Notably, even in the video of the arrest operation filmed by the security service, the Shabab's homes appeared simple, unfortified, and non-suspicious. Their residents opened the doors dressed in simple civilian clothing, some even in sleepwear, showing no resistance, violence, or any signs of terrorism or thuggery. After the search operation, only Qurans and books were found—no weapons or any tools related to violence or terrorism were discovered.

This clearly shows that what the Hizb has declared about itself since its founding in 1953 in Jerusalem—that it is a political Hizb that does not adopt violence or material actions—is true as confirmed by the arrest video itself.

Hizb ut Tahrir, not out of fear or tactics, but in adherence to the example of the Messenger of Allah (saw), is an Islamic political party that does not adopt material actions as a means to resume the Islamic life, nor does it engage in violence or terrorism to achieve this. Rather, all its activities are intellectual and political in nature. Its 72-year history, spanning across five continents, bears witness to and reinforces this.

However, it is the bankruptcy of police and dictatorial regimes that drives them to fabricate accusations and slander the Hizb and its members to confront it and limit its spread. They are incapable of challenging it with thought, argument, or discourse. Hizb ut Tahrir possesses a great civilizational project—the pure and untainted Islamic project—that no other ideology can stand against. Islam and its project represent the truth from Allah, which no falsehood can approach from behind or ahead. How, then, can human-made principles and ideas withstand the argument and greatness of Islam? Allah Almighty says:

[بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ]

“Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe.” [Al-Anbiya:18].

Russia’s approach, like that of all tyrants today, is neither new nor innovative; rather, it is as old as the conflict between truth and falsehood, between light and darkness. Consider Prophet Lot (peace be upon him): his people could find nothing to criticize him for except the virtue that distinguished him from them. Instead of honoring and following him, they sought to expel him. Allah Almighty says:

[وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ أَخْرِجُوهُم مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ]

"But the answer of his people was only that they said, "Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure."” [Al-A’raf:82]. Thus, his "crime" and that of his followers was that they purified themselves!

And here is Pharaoh, who threatened the people with severe punishment and the amputation of their hands and feet simply because they believed in the truth brought by Prophet Mosa. Their only "crime" was their conviction and faith in what they knew to be true. When Pharaoh's magicians recognized the truth and believed, he had no means to turn them away from their faith except through torture and persecution. Allah Almighty says:

[قَالَ آمَنتُمْ لَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّهُ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِي عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِي جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَا أَشَدُّ عَذَاباً وَأَبْقَى]

“[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring."” [Ta-Ha:71].

But even among Pharaoh’s own people, a believing man, hiding his faith, spoke with sound reasoning:

[وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ إِيمَانَهُ أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلاً أَن يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ اللهُ وَقَدْ جَاءكُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ وَإِن يَكُ كَاذِباً فَعَلَيْهِ كَذِبُهُ وَإِن يَكُ صَادِقاً يُصِبْكُم بَعْضُ الَّذِي يَعِدُكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ كَذَّابٌ]

“And a believing man from the family of Pharaoh who concealed his faith said, "Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, 'My Lord is Allah' while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? And if he should be lying, then upon him is [the consequence of] his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.”” [Ghafir:28].

And here is Prophet Muhammad (saw), the most truthful and trustworthy, known for his impeccable character—qualities that even his people acknowledged. Yet, the tyrants of Quraysh saw no choice but to confront him with force, oppression, and tyranny. They besieged him, harmed him, tortured his companions, and drove them out of their homes, despite their only "offense" being their belief in their Lord and His true religion. Allah Almighty says:

[وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَن يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ]

“And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy,” [Al-Buruj:8].

And here is Russia today, like other dictatorial and police states, unable to challenge the Hizb and its members with reasoned arguments, resorting instead to force and slander. Russia's accusation of terrorism against the Hizb is an intellectual and moral failure—an outright lie that should bring them shame. If Russia's rulers had any sense, they would allow the Hizb to engage freely with people's minds, and they would themselves embrace Islam—the religion of truth, mercy, and justice—abandoning the rotten capitalism that has corrupted life, destroyed resources, and brought suffering to the entire world.

As for the Hizb and its members, they have pledged to Allah from the very first day to be faithful guardians of Islam, bearers of a divine message of light and guidance, steadfast upon the truth until Allah grants them victory and that will come soon, by His will. Allah Almighty says:

[وَلِيُمَحِّصَ اللهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَيَمْحَقَ الْكَافِرِينَ]

“And that Allah may purify the believers [through trials] and destroy the disbelievers.” [Aal-i-Imran:141].

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Eng. Baher Saleh
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir